A tremendous amount of research went into making this post, which covers contests of note ending in April, May and June. A special thanks to Art for all of this work. We hope many in the WU community appreciate this roundup as well, and are able to benefit from it all through enriching contest experiences.

Enjoy, and good luck!

Fiction Writing Contests Worth Your Time

Hi, my name is Art, and I’m hooked on submitting fiction. (Hi Art!) Inspired by Lit Hub’s 100 rejections per year post, I’m aiming for at least 50 submissions in 2017.

Finding opportunities to submit can be time consuming. As I open each email from Submittable or Literistic; check listings from Poets & Writers and TheReviewReview; and ask writing friends, private groups, or communities on Slack or reddit, I’m flooded with markets looking for work. Much like editors are looking for reasons to reject, I want to focus on opportunities worth my time. Thus, my list of writing contests below includes reasons to submit to that particular writing contest.

I’ve found writing contests that include travel prizes, having your work read by literary agents and prestigious judges (Hi Lauren Groff! Hi Art!), as well as plenty of blind submissions—including a brand new journal. Eligibility ranges from emerging writers to authors on their third, fourth, or fifth novel to citizens of Maine.

If you only submit to one…

If you only have time to submit to one contest this season, my recommendation is Carve Magazine’s Raymond Carver Short Story Contest. See the details in the May list below.

April 2017

Nimrod International Journal – Nimrod Literary Awards

Two prizes of $2,000 each and publication in Nimrod International Journal are given annually for works of short fiction. The winners also receive transportation and lodging to attend an awards ceremony and writing conference in Tulsa in October. A runner-up in each category receives $1,000 and publication in Nimrod International Journal. U.S. writers may submit up to 7,500 words of fiction with a $20 entry fee, which includes a subscription to Nimrod International Journal, by April 30. All entries are considered for publication.

Redivider – Beacon Street Prize

We launched the Beacon Street Prize in 2012, in honor of our 10th anniversary, and writers and readers responded with such enthusiasm that we now hold it annually. The $20 entry fee includes a complimentary one-year print subscription to Redivider, and will qualify each short story for $1,000 and publication in Issue 15.1. 8,000 words max.

Ghost Story – Supernatural Fiction Award

Twice each year The Ghost Story awards $1,000 and publication in The Ghost Story to the winner of our short story competition. Two other writers will receive Honorable Mention and Second Honorable Mention awards that include publication and cash prizes of $250 and $100 respectively. The winning stories will be published on Midsummer’s Eve and October 31. The upcoming deadline is April 30, 2017. Ghost stories are welcome, of course—but your submission may involve any paranormal or supernatural theme, as well as magic realism. What we’re looking for is fine writing, fresh perspectives, and maybe a few surprises in the field of supernatural fiction. Story length should run between 1,500 and 10,000 words. Entry fee is $20 per story. Multiple entries and simultaneous submissions are permitted.

Glimmer Train – Fiction Open

Open to all subjects, all themes, and all writers. Most entries run from 3,000 to 6,000 words, but any lengths from 3,000 to 20,000 words are welcome. Due April 30. $21 reading fee. Prizes range from $600 – $3,000 and include publication.

May 2017

Southwest Review – David Nathan Meyerson Fiction Prize

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Southwest Review is given annually for a short story by a writer who has not published a full-length book of fiction. Submit a story of up to 8,000 words with a $25 entry fee by May 1. No simultaneous submissions.

The Malahat Review – Far Horizons Award for Short Fiction

The Malahat Review, Canada’s premier literary magazine, invites emerging short-story writers from Canada and abroad to enter the Far Horizons Award for Short Fiction. Eligible authors have yet to publish their fiction in book form (a book is defined to have a length of 48 pages or more). Publication in literary magazines is acceptable. One prize of $1,000 (CAD) is awarded. Judged by Steven Price. Submit up to 3,500 words. Entry fee varies by nationality.

Reasons to submit:

Prestige—established Canadian literary journal, circa 1967

Blind submissions are fine submissions!

Lower competition—not competing with published novelists

Read on—Entry fee includes one-year subscription

Maine Arts Commission – Maine Artist Fellowship

Maine Artist Fellowships are awarded annually to recognize artistic excellence and advance the careers of Maine artists. Fellowships are merit-based awards that are primarily informed by an applicant’s work. Submit up to 20 pages of prose.

Reasons to submit:

Lower competition—only others who’ve lived in Maine for at least a year

No funding match is required

No entry fee

Carve Magazine – Raymond Carver Short Story Contest

Now in its 17th year, the Raymond Carver Short Story Contest is one of the most renowned fiction contests in the world. Featuring prominent guest judges and offering $2500 across five prizes, the contest delivers exciting new fiction from writers all over the world. The contest opens each year April 1 – May 15 and prizewinners are published in the following fall issue in October. $15-17 reading fee. Prizes: $1500 (1st), $500 (2nd), $250 (3rd), and two $125 (Editor’s Choice). Winning stories will be read by three literary agents: Nat Sobel from Sobel-Weber Associates, Erin Harris from Folio Literary Management, and Catherine Cho from Curtis Brown UK.

I Come From the World

Now accepting literary journal submissions for its debut issue. We are running a $500 literary and arts contest with award-winning writers Kim Bridgford and Pete Duval as contest judges. Open to creative submissions in all its forms – nonfiction, fiction, poetry, visual arts, and multimedia (audio, video, animation & more) – award will go to the submission that moves us most in terms of “what it means to come from the world.” Deadline: May 15, 2017. Blind submissions only. $3 reading fee.

Reasons to submit:

Lower competition—new journal

Blind submissions are fine submissions!

Ploughshares – Emerging Writer’s Contest

The winning story from the 2017 contest will be published in the Winter 2017-18 issue of Ploughshares and receive $2,000. Submit fiction under 6,000 words. Due May 15. Garth Greenwell is judging in the fiction category. Winner announced in mid-September 2017.

St. Francis College – Literary Prize

The biannual $50,000 Literary Prize is sponsored by St. Francis College to offer its support and encouragement to the literary community and mid-career authors who have recently published their 3rd to 5th work of fiction, published between June 2015 and May 2017.

Reasons to submit:

No entry fee

Huge prize

Self-published books allowed

English translations allowed

New Letters – Prize for Fiction

Simultaneous submissions of unpublished entries are accepted with proper notification upon acceptance elsewhere. All entries will be considered for publication in New Letters. Fiction entries should not exceed 8,000 words. Multiple entries are accepted with additional fees. Finalists are notified in mid-August, after preliminary judging. Final judging selects one winner and one runner-up in each category, announced the third week of September. Judges have the option to select work for second runner-up and honorable mentions. $20 for first entry; $15 for every entry after. If entering online, add a $5 service charge to entry fee.

Crab Orchard Review – Jack Dyer Fiction Prize

$1,250 prize and publication in CRAB ORCHARD REVIEW ONLINE for a single unpublished story or novel excerpt up to 6000 words. Your name should appear nowhere on your fiction submission. There is no theme for the Literary Prize entries; just send your best work. $12 submission fee. One winner will be chosen in Fiction and will be published in the next general issue of CRAB ORCHARD REVIEW ONLINE. Finalists and other entries will be offered publication in the online issue as well. The expected publication date of that issue is February 2018. The winners and finalists will also be announced on the CRAB ORCHARD REVIEW Online Website and the winners will appear in the following year’s May/June POETS & WRITERS.

June 2017

American Short Fiction Contest

The American Short Fiction Prize—a contest for stories between 2,000 and 6,500 words—is now open for submissions. This year we are honored to have Lauren Groff, author of Fates and Furies (Obama’s favorite book of 2015), as our guest judge. The first-place winner will receive a $1,000 prize and publication in our spring issue. One runner-up will receive $500 and all entries will be considered for publication. $20 entry fee.

Philadelphia Stories – Marguerite McGlinn Prize for Fiction

This is an annual national short fiction contest that features a first place $2,000 cash award and invitation to an awards dinner on the campus of Rosemont College; a second place cash prize of $500; and third place cash prize of $250. The winner stories will be published in the print issue of Fall of Philadelphia Stories. Previously unpublished works of fiction up to 8,000 words. $15 reading fee. All entrants will receive a complimentary copy of the Philadelphia Stories contest issue. Winners will be announced by October 1, 2017. Judged by Karen Joy Fowler.

Reasons to submit:

Prestigious judge

Wanderluster—prize includes travel

Oh, wordy!—generous word count limit

Share the wealth—multiple prizes

The Los Angeles Review Flash Fiction Award

The Los Angeles Review Flash Fiction Award is a prize of $1,000 and publication in LAR given bi-annually for an exceptional work of fiction. This season’s judge is Siel Ju. Please submit a piece no longer than 500 words. The winning story will be published in the new LAR Online and included in the annual best-of print edition, set to be released in spring 2018. $20 entry fee.

The Bellevue Literary Review – Goldenberg Prize for Fiction

The Bellevue Literary Review awards outstanding writing related to themes of health, healing, illness, the mind, and the body. First prize is $1,000 and publication in the Spring 2018 issue of BLR. Honorable mention winners will receive $250 and publication. We seek character-driven fiction with original voices and strong settings. We do not publish genre fiction (romance, sci-fi, horror). Our word max is 5,000, though most of our published stories tend to be in the range of 2,000-4,000 words. We have only occasionally published flash fiction. While we are always interested in creative explorations in style, we do lean toward classic short stories. Judged by Geraldine Brooks.

Wish you could buy this author a cup of joe?

Arthur Klepchukov was born between Black Seas, Virginian Beaches, and San Franciscan waves. He adores trains, swing sets, and music that tears him outta time. Read Art’s words in The Common, Necessary Fiction, KYSO Flash, Fiction Southeast, and more at ArsenalOfWords.com

Comments

I appreciate the work that went into this post and it was an interesting read for a Sunday morning. There were many contests I was interested in. But I am a cash-strapped person who just can not justify paying entry fees when the money needs (has too) go to other places. I know it is part of the process and entry fees can be justified as that but it is just not in the cards for me at this time. Do you have any suggestions for free or less expensive short story contests?

I feel your pain. With so many contests charging entry fees, I’ve had to get quite picky as well. I didn’t come across any prominent ones without fees this time (except the St. Francis College – Literary Prize).

There are always open submissions periods for literary journals with much lower fees, typically free – $3. Some of the same resources in my “Finding opportunities” paragraph will include links to open submissions.

This is a lovely post and handy to have. One thing, I was interested in the The Ghost Story, Supernatural Fiction Award submission but when I went on the link you provided the post has it posted “by EDITOR on DECEMBER 25, 2014.” Arthur, can you verify that this contest is currently open for this year? They are charging $20 for submission and it’s a little odd that their post is dated 2014. Please verify. Thank you.

Good eye on the 2014 date on their site. That was probably the last time they updated the contest description on their end. I tend to trust the Submittable deadlines for organizations that use Submittable, since they pay for it and Submittable announces many opportunities through their newsletter.

This is a great resource and obviously took a lot of time and effort to compose. A great big thank you, Art, for spreading the word and helping us find our way to readers. I’d love to see this as a regular quarterly feature here at Writer Unboxed.

This is really wonderful — so much useful information and so helpful. I’m glad I live in Maine… I’ve never quite had the guts to apply for the artist fellowship… but maybe this is the year. Thanks for the encouraging words and for this amazing list, too.

Hello Martin! Generally, I believe English language overseas submissions are welcome unless specifically excluded. I would always recommend checking the submission guidelines of the contest you’re interested in and emailing the contest facilitators with any questions.